Housewife steals from husband to get maximum alimony

In a bid to ensure that the true extent of her husband's wealth and properties came to light at a scheduled alimony hearing, a 38-year-old housewife stole 630 grams of gold worth Rs 18.4 lakh and documents related to flats in Pune and Lonavala and land near Ganpatipule with the help of two other people.

The Pune police have arrested the woman and she was remanded in judicial custody by a court yesterday. The accused, Ashwini Prasad Jawaji (38), is a resident of Yash Garden row houses in Bhosari's Indrayaninagar. Her husband, Prasad Jankiram Jawaji (45), is the managing director of a Mumbai-based private company, said police.

Police Sub-Inspector R N Ovhal, who is investigating the case, said, "Prasad Jawaji's first wife had expired. He married Ashwini a few years ago and they have a son and a daughter. Prasad recently filed a case in the family court seeking divorce from Ashwini."

Break-in"In order to get maximum alimony from Prasad, Ashwini attempted to produce all relevant documents pertaining to her husband's property during the court hearing. With the help of two other people, she managed to break open the electronic master safe kept inside Prasad's bedroom.

When Prasad realised that the documents and gold ornaments had been 'stolen' by his wife, he lodged a complaint against her," said Ovhal. Ashwini has been charged under sections 380 (theft in house) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

She was arrested on Saturday and produced in a court of the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) on Sunday. The police had demanded Ashwini's custody to question her about her accomplices, but the court remanded her in judicial custody.